Fillmore County, Minnesota

Fillmore County, Minnesota
Fillmore County is a county in the U.S. state of Minnesota. As of the 2020 census, the population was 21,228. Its county seat is Preston. Fillmore County is included in the Rochester metropolitan area.
History
Fillmore County was created on March 5, 1853. It is named for Millard Fillmore, the 13th president of the United States. Fillmore County was an early destination for Euro-American settlement following the United States' 1851 treaties with the Dakota nations. Norwegian immigrants were particularly numerous. In 1860 Fillmore was Minnesota's most populous county.
Geography
Fillmore County is on Minnesota's border with Iowa. The Root River drains the county, flowing eastward. The North Branch and the Middle Branch combine east of Shady Creek, while the South Branch meets their combined flow at Preston. Bear Creek drains the lower part of the county, discharging into the Root in the eastern part of the county. Willow Creek also drains a portion of the lower county, discharging into the Root at Preston. The Upper Iowa River flows eastward, mostly in adjoining Iowa counties, but briefly enters Fillmore County near the midpoint of its southern border.
The county's terrain consists of rolling hills, carved by gullies and drainages, with the available area dedicated to agriculture. The terrain slopes to the east; its highest point is on the lower western border, at ASL. The county has a total area of , of which is land and (0.09%) is water.
The county is part of the Driftless Area or Paleozoic plateau. This part of Minnesota was ice-free during the last ice age. Fillmore County also displays a karst topography.
Major highways
U.S. Highway 52
U.S. Highway 63
Minnesota State Highway 16
Minnesota State Highway 30
Minnesota State Highway 43
Minnesota State Highway 44
Minnesota State Highway 56
Minnesota State Highway 74
Minnesota State Highway 80
Minnesota State Highway 139
Minnesota State Highway 250
List of county roads
Adjacent counties
Winona County - northeast
Houston County - east
Winneshiek County, Iowa - southeast
Howard County, Iowa - southwest
Mower County - west
Olmsted County - northwest
Protected areas
Forestville/Mystery Cave State Park
Mystery Cave State Park
Pin Oak Prairie Scientific and Natural Area
Rushford Sand Barrens Scientific and Natural Area
Wycoff Balsam Fir Scientific and Natural Area
Demographics
2020 Census
2010 census
As of the census of 2010, there were 20,866 people, 8,545 households, and 5,763 families in the county. The population density was . There were 9,732 housing units at an average density of . The racial makeup of the county was 98.2% White, 0.2% Black or African American, 0.10% Native American, 0.3% Asian, 0.3% from other races, and 0.8% from two or more races. 1% of the population were Hispanic or Latino of any race.
There were 8,545 households, out of which 29.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 56.4% were married couples living together, 7% had a female householder with no husband present, 4% had a male householder with no wife present, and 32.60% were non-families. 28.30% of all households were made up of individuals, and 7.32% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.40 and the average family size was 2.94.
The county population contained 24.3% under the age of 18, 6.5% from 18 to 24, 21.9% from 25 to 44, 28.20% from 45 to 64, and 17.10% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 43 years. For every 100 females there were 97.30 males. For every 100 females age 18 and over, there were 98.80 males.
In 2010, the median income for a household in the county was $45,888, and the median income for a family was $59,034. Males had a median income of $39,239 versus $33,571 for females. 2015 estimates state the per capita income for the county was $26,348. In 2015, about 7.4% of families and 11.10% of the population were below the poverty line, including 16.50% of those under age 18 and 10.9% of those age 65 or over.
Communities
Cities
Canton
Chatfield (part)
Fountain
Harmony
Lanesboro
Mabel
Ostrander
Peterson
Preston (county seat)
Rushford
Rushford Village
Spring Valley
Whalan
Wykoff
Unincorporated communities
Bratsberg
Carimona
Cherry Grove
Clear Grit
Elliota
Etna
Fillmore
Forestville
Granger
Greenleafton
Hamilton
Henrytown
Highland
Lenora
Newburg
Prosper
York
Townships
Amherst Township
Arendahl Township
Beaver Township
Bloomfield Township
Bristol Township
Canton Township
Carimona Township
Carrolton Township
Chatfield Township
Fillmore Township
Forestville Township
Fountain Township
Harmony Township
Holt Township
Jordan Township
Newburg Township
Norway Township
Pilot Mound Township
Preble Township
Preston Township
Spring Valley Township
Sumner Township
York Township
Government and politics
Fillmore County was a swing county until the 2016 presidential election. From 1980 to 2016, the county predicted the president 67% of the time. Since 2016, Fillmore County has shifted rightward and has voted for the Republican nominee by double digits.
Education
School districts include:
Chatfield Public Schools
Fillmore Central School District
Kingsland Public School District
Lanesboro Public School District
LeRoy-Ostrander Public Schools
Mabel-Canton Public School District
Rushford-Peterson Public Schools
St. Charles Public School District
Stewartville Public School District
See also
Commonweal Theatre Company
Dream Acres
National Register of Historic Places listings in Fillmore County, Minnesota
References
External links
Fillmore County government's website
Fillmore County Health and Demographic Data
Minnesota counties
Driftless Area
1853 establishments in Minnesota Territory
Populated places established in 1853